Liverpool FC Forum

by **A.B.** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 5:40 pm

From BBC

Chelsea have agreed a club-record fee of £26m with Lyon for Ghana midfielder Michael Essien.

The 22-year-old has agreed a five-year contract with the Blues and will be in London to take his medical on Tuesday.

Essien's arrival at Stamford Bridge ends the summer's longest-running transfer saga.

Chelsea had bids of £10m, £16.75m, £18m, £21m and £21m plus Tiago turned down by the French champions before finally reaching agreement.

The Blues will pay the fee in full next week.

Lyon official Bernard Lacombe said: "Financialy it is an extraordinary operation. It is one third of our budget and it represents the entire budget of some Ligue 1 clubs.

"For Michael it was not a question of money. It was his dream to play in England."

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas added: "It is with great regret that Michael will leave Lyon. We wanted to keep him but we cannot make him stay.

"It is a wrench but for the club this is a good deal.

"We have talked about Michael's situation in great detail and we have decided it is better if we let him go."

It's sad to see him go but for him it is extraordinary and we all wish him good luck
Lyon defender Sylvain Monsoreau

He described Essien as a player "who for the last two months has no longer wanted to play for Lyon".

Aulas added: "This decision is regrettable, in a sporting and ethical sense. Everything has been done to keep him."

Essien, tipped as one of the best six midfielders in Europe by Lyon boss Gerard Houllier, will now compete for a place in the Chelsea side with the likes of Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele.

Lyon defender Sylvain Monsoreau said Essien's team-mates understood why he wanted to join Chelsea.

"It is sad to see him go but for him it is extraordinary and we all wish him good luck," said Monsoreau.

Fellow defender Anthony Reveillere added: "Lyon existed before Michael Essien and will exist after him but it is true that we are losing a fantastic player.

"It is his choice to leave and you have to respect that."

by **skipper** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 7:11 pm

Well, it's finally over. Lyon were fighting a losing battle.

chelsea and Maureen of course get what they wanted.

They have a crowded midfield don't they?

by **66-1120597113** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 7:25 pm

If Chelsea didnt want him he would have been sold for far less!! Once again Chelski have been had!It does'nt worry me who they sign anymore,its a farce and it was boring long ago!! Remember what Rafa said!! 11vs11!! I cant wait 2 we play the B-stards

by **A.B.** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 8:59 pm

Well, it's finally over. Lyon were fighting a losing battle.

chelsea and Maureen of course get what they wanted.

They have a crowded midfield don't they?

Lyon didn't actually lose, sure they lost a good player but have 26 million pounds in return. They stood their grown and made Chelsea spend more on a player than he's actually worth.

It's not a crowded midfield because now Chelsea have two players for every position, like Benitez, Mourinho is going to rotate his squad.

by **Reinas No.1 Fan** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 9:22 pm

oh well we all know chelsea are gonna try and buy everything but im just waiting for the FA to step in and do something about it. Because when the compition is eliminated then sky and its money will turn to other things and then every club is up :censored:

creak especially certain clubs who buget for getting to the semi of the champs league every season (manure by the way, agrogent :censored:

)

by **El Nino_#9** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:07 pm

surely this post should of gone in the "premiership player and TRANSFERS" section?

by **JC_81** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:24 pm

I think Lyon have absolutely robbed Chelski here. I could be wrong but I really think that Essien could be another Drogba. We know he can raise his game in the big European games, but has anyone actually seen him week in, week out for Lyon in the league? I haven't, but I'll bet he's not 26 millions-worth.

I'd be very dubious about paying that amount from a player from the French league, history has a habit of repeating itself

by **A.B.** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:59 pm

I think Lyon have absolutely robbed Chelski here.

I think so too. The original bid for Essien was 10 million.

by **Ciggy** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:01 pm

They got ripped off good style SWP 21 million HAHA :laugh:

Shower of b*stards hope they get ripped off even more and when Roman leaves they will be in sh*t street like Leeds :rasp

by **stmichael** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:02 pm

£26m for essien, £24m for drogba and £21m for SWP. :laugh:

real madrid paid less than that for robinho, who is one of the best 2 or 3 young talents in world football right now.

says it all really. :no

by **neil** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:06 pm

I wonder if Houllier will now tempt Liverpool & Baros an offer they can't refuse. Lyon are champions and can provide champions league footy for him during this world cup year. Aston villa are merely a pawn IMO
Watch this space.

by **Ciggy** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:09 pm

neil wrote:I wonder if Houllier will now tempt Liverpool & Baros an offer they can't refuse. Lyon are champions and can provide champions league footy for him during this world cup year. Aston villa are merely a pawn IMO
Watch this space.

Yes I somehow think France is a much better option than the outskirts of Birmingham for Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilan :kungfu:

by **stmichael** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:11 pm

neil wrote:I wonder if Houllier will now tempt Liverpool & Baros an offer they can't refuse. Lyon are champions and can provide champions league footy for him during this world cup year. Aston villa are merely a pawn IMO
Watch this space.

yeah and maybe he can also take salif diao, bruno cheyrou and bernarde diomede.

by **Ciggy** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:12 pm

Whats happening with salif where the f*ck has he got to LMFAO :laugh:

by **stmichael** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:16 pm

cisses_gona_get_ya wrote: Whats happening with salif where the f*ck has he got to LMFAO

he went to birmingham on loan but got lost at spaghetti junction and was never seen again. :laugh:

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